The MEC for Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass was reportedly called to a meeting lasting week Wednesday with protesters from Lerato Park in Roodepan, Kimberely. According to a statement as officially released by COGHST, in this meeting the community raised their dissatisfaction with the Sol Plaatje municipality with regards to the electrification project in Lerato Park, the completion of which is currently being delayed. The MEC together with the Mayor for the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, Kagiso Sonyoni accompanied by officials from both the department and the municipality yesterday met with the community to give a response on this issue. Vass provided the following as reason to this delay. INSERT (Vass 1) In the meeting the MEC expressed that the government is aware of slow delivery of some services to communities and there are reasons as to why there is a delay. Part of the reason why the electrification has an element of delay is because the project itself is being done in phases, as a result not all areas will receive electricity at the same time. A memorandum was handed over to the MEC and the mayor. The community was requested to appoint community leaders that will meet with the technical team of the municipality, which will take them through the project plan. A meeting will be convened with the community on January 31, to respond to the memorandum.

Journalist: Mbali Masiza
Email: mbalimasiza198@gmail.com